Investing.com - The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in the U.K. declined less-than-expected in September, while the country’s jobless rate fell to the lowest level since October 2008, official data showed on Wednesday.
In a report, the U.K. Office for National Statistics said that the claimant count fell by a seasonally adjusted 18,600 last month, compared to expectations for a decline of 35,000 people. August’s figure was revised to a drop of 33,200 people from a previously reported decline of 37,200.
The report also showed that the rate of unemployment declined to 6.0% in the three months to August, compared to expectations for a reading of 6.1% and down from 6.2% in the three months to July.
Meanwhile, the average earnings index, including bonuses, rose by a seasonally adjusted 0.7% in the three months to August, in line with forecasts, after rising by 0.6% in the three months to July.
Excluding bonuses, wages rose by 0.9% in the three months to August, above expectations for a gain of 0.8% and following a 0.8% gain in the three months to July.
GBP/USD was trading at 1.5922 from around 1.5920 ahead of the release of the data, while EUR/GBP was at 0.7950 from 0.7954 earlier.
Meanwhile, European stock markets remained lower. London’s FTSE 100 lost 1.1%, the DJ Euro Stoxx 50 shed 0.7%, France's CAC 40 declined 0.45%, while Germany's DAX slumped 0.4%.